Fascinated by ritual baths and baptism

Thursday

Jul 24, 2014 at 2:00 AM

I enjoyed reading about the archaeological find of a "mikveh" on a Strawbery Banke museum plot. The article, printed July 9 ("Archaeology team unearths mikveh at Strawbery Banke site"), mentioned it was a ritual immersion bath used in the Jewish culture since ancient times.

July 21 — To the Editor:

I enjoyed reading about the archaeological find of a "mikveh" on a Strawbery Banke museum plot. The article, printed July 9 ("Archaeology team unearths mikveh at Strawbery Banke site"), mentioned it was a ritual immersion bath used in the Jewish culture since ancient times.

I once read in a National Geographic magazine that these baths are still used by devout Jews today. I also read somewhere that these ritual baths were used by the Romans. Say, if they were to adopt a person into their family they would perform an immersion ritual, symbolizing the person dying to their old life, being buried, and then rising to live a new life in their new family.

I'm sure the reason I found this fascinating is because of my interest in the Bible and a thorough study of the Christian baptism according to the scriptures. So the practice of baptism was not new when John the Baptist came on the scene and called upon the people to repent, and be baptized ("immersed," if properly translated from the Greek) that they might receive remission of their sins, thus acknowledging their unfitness to be in the Messiah's Kingdom.

Distinct from this is the baptism enjoined by Christ, Mathew 28:19, a baptism to be undergone by believers, thus witnessing to their identification with him in his death, burial and resurrection. Acts 19:5; Romans 6:3,4; I Corinthians 1:13-17 and 12:13; Galatians 3:27; and Colossians 2:12. Strange to me that people don't make the connection that the baptism that was taught by the apostles was "like" the cleansing ritual used by the Jews, also symbolizing one dying to their old life of sin, being buried and rising to live a new life "in" Christ. There is so much confusion in the denominational world about this subject. Many practice infant baptism. I can't find that in the scriptures. Some teach immersion but not for forgiveness of sins. Some sprinkle the water on babies or adults. What does that symbolize?

I once visited the town of Pisa in Italy, where I saw the famous 55.86-meter-tall "leaning bell tower." More interesting to me was the round, imposing, 55-meter-tall, three-story dome shaped baptistry building. It is empty except for a tall ornate pulpit, imposing tall pillars and in the center, a big octagonal basin which incorporates four other smaller basins, once used for baptism by immersion. The three stories are just stairs that go around the inside of the circular outer wall which lead up to balconies so people could observe what was taking place inside the building. There is also a large cathedral on this site. All are now just tourist attractions. The message is still the same; why has the mode changed?

Another interesting point is that one cannot join the church. When we are obedient to the teaching of Christ, The Lord adds us to THE church — Acts 2:47. What church is that? The one Jesus died for. The one that was established around 33 A.D. Scripture refers to it as "the church of Christ." He died for it and shed His blood that we might live a new life. But we have to go through that cleansing ritual, symbolic of his death, burial and resurrection to be able to walk in that new life.

The apostle Paul was a missionary, and he established many congregations of the church of Christ. See Romans 16:16. There is probably one in your town ready to help you get right.

I know of three that are close by: Dover Church of Christ, 89 Old Rochester Road, Kittery Church of Christ, 48 Love Lane; Seabrook Church of Christ on Route 1. Do it right!

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